Breaking the silence on occupational diseases: A cross-sectional insight

Background: Occupational diseases, resulting from prolonged exposure to workplace hazards, pose a significant public health challenge worldwide. Despite the increasing burden, awareness regarding occupational health and safety (OHS) remains limited, especially in developing countries like India. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the awareness of OHS regulations and to evaluate the perceived emphasis on occupational health in public education. Medical undergraduates were chosen because, as future healthcare providers, they serve as an important proxy group for identifying awareness gaps and educational needs. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 256 medical undergraduates using a structured questionnaire. Data on awareness of occupational health regulations, perception of public education emphasis, support systems, personal experiences, and interest in learning more were collected and analyzed using frequency and percentage distribution. Manual content analysis was also applied to open-ended responses. Results: Only 43.8% of respondents were familiar with OHS guidelines, and 67.2% believed occupational health is underrepresented in public education. Furthermore, 66% reported a lack of support for affected individuals, and only 17.6% personally knew someone with an occupational illness. However, 94.1% expressed interest in learning more about occupational health. Manual content analysis revealed a limited understanding of modern preventive technologies and focused heavily on traditional occupational diseases such as silicosis and pneumoconiosis, mainly linked to the coal and textile industries. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant gap in occupational health awareness even among medical undergraduates, despite occupational health being part of their curriculum. This suggests a need to strengthen teaching–learning approaches, emphasize practical training, and enhance curriculum delivery rather than generalizing the findings to the wider public. The strong interest expressed by students indicates that targeted educational interventions within medical training could be highly effective in improving knowledge and shaping future advocacy.